ELKINS, W.Va. (Aug. 28, 2025) – Vandalia Health Davis Medical Center, Vandalia Health Broaddus Hospital and Vandalia Health Webster Memorial Hospital proudly announce the launch of the DAISY Award recognition program honoring nurses who provide exceptional, compassionate care to their patients.
“We are thrilled to launch the DAISY Award program at each of our Vandalia Health Davis hospitals,” said Diana Landsverk, RN, BSN, MBA, Chief Nursing Officer for Vandalia Health Davis Medical Center and Davis Health System. “Our nurses provide compassionate care to patients and families every day, often during their most difficult moments. This program gives us the opportunity to honor them in a meaningful and lasting way.”
The DAISY Award was created by the family of Patrick Barnes, who developed an autoimmune disease and sadly passed away at the young age of 33. Patrick’s family was not only inspired by the excellent clinical skills nurses brought to his treatment, but by the compassion and kindness that was shown to both Patrick and to the family. They felt compelled to say “thank you” to nurses everywhere for what they do each day.
“We were there to see the clinical skill that dealt with his very complex medical situation, the fast thinking of nurses who saved his life more than once, and nursing excellence that took years to hone to the best of the profession,” Mark Barnes, Patrick’s father, wrote. “We were awed by the way the nurses touched him and spoke with him, even when he was on a ventilator and totally sedated. The way they informed and educated us eased our minds. They truly helped us through the darkest hours of our lives, with soft voices of hope and strong loving hugs that to this day, we still feel.”
After Patrick’s passing, his family began thinking of ways to honor their son and those nurses who were so important in his last days. The DAISY Award — an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System — was created to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary care nurses provide.
With the addition of Vandalia Health Davis locations, all Vandalia Health hospitals now participate in the DAISY Award program. Vandalia Health Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) began recognizing DAISY Award honorees in 2014, and Vandalia Health Mon Health System launched the program in 2021. Expanding the program to Vandalia Health Davis locations ensures that every hospital across Vandalia Health is united in celebrating the extraordinary care provided by nurses.
Today, there are over 4,650 health care facilities and schools of nursing in all 50 states and 28 other countries committed to honoring nurses with The DAISY Award. The impact of the program is profound, positively influencing nurses’ job satisfaction, retention, teamwork, pride, organizational culture and the overall work environment.
Nurses can be nominated by anyone who has been touched by their care — patients, family members, other nurses, physicians, clinicians, or staff — anyone who has witnessed extraordinary, compassionate care being provided by a nurse.
For more information or to nominate a nurse for the DAISY Award at Davis Medical Center, Broaddus Hospital or Webster Memorial Hospital, visit www.DavisHealthSystem.org.
